Daily Republican., 1887-05-07
A BIT OF BIOGRAPHY.
by REV JOHN HALL, d. d, Ill d.

by REV John RAIL-, d. ID. LII ID.
| That WAS typical New England
home In which jacob Baker began his
life aud grew up under forces that made
1t successful. His father owned tht
farm, and fought with poor soil
Astounding rock. long winters and dis
tant markets TO bring up his family 10
honesty. There was no carpet on the
floor, and no sofa In the room where
guests were received. Two handsome
rocking chairs and q tall clock made
the impressive articles Of tho home
and-wi,h q book shelf containing q
good collection Of Histories, Sermons
and Travels show wed the stsIding OIL
tho family His father had to work
hard, hts mother had to rise very early
for half the ) ear. and he and the Other
young ones Of the family, when the
school was not open, and mornings and
evenihgs when IL WAS, had TO do a good
deal of work about the place. Jacot
could build q stone fence cut and split
o tree, hold the Plough, handle the hAr'
row, and manage the cattle before he
was fifteen. And this did not interfere
with his stopping work ct shutdown on
Saturday night, aud being regularly at
church on the Sabbath, though . good
two miles had to be Travelled, snd the
road VS. not OF the best. He was of an
old fashioned, strict, religious New
England family; and be never had any.
thing but respect and veneration for its
ways.
At fifteen chance came to 20 into
business, aud not without misgivlngs
his parents gave consent. He learned
some mechanical works, and kept the
books of o small firm at the same time,
whether by single or double entry, no
one inquired.
But they we're correct to cent, and
the firm soon found that Jacob could
serve them by travelling. He became
agent with the prospect OF an interest in
the business. 10 u little time the bust
ness could not well get on without him,
and he became partner before he was
seven .and.twenty, with general I'M
derst and Ing among the business people
that he carried the brains OF the firm.
His marriage was rendered prudent
| by the growth Of the business, and his
| wife-with less of the old Puritan
rigidity thaa he. and q little moro of
the Boston social aInbition-was yet, In
the main, q prudent helpmeet, and any
one could see that Jacob-they called
him Mr.. Baker now-was growing rich,
| n only ty the additions made 20 "tL Q
works." but by the building Of q new
and modern front to his house, doub
ling It's size, aud by the vehicle in
hich he and his family rode to church
The partners left everything to him,
and W hen he sho we'd them that 10 could
command capital from Boston to en-.
iarge and manufacture In way they
had never thought Of, they concluded
i it was ab)u. time for them to retire
They did SO, after settlement on a
busi ness basis, In which Deacon Bart
lett represe nted them and a lawyer rep
| resented Mr.. Baker-an expense which
| the deacon said was uselets, for "a
N ore strait htforwari and clear headed
man than Mr.. Baker never signed a
Mr.. Bakers check to his
partners exceeded heir expectations by
twenty per cent.
Enlarged works on new methods paid
good profits, drew body Of workers
around, raised the price OF land, and
gave Mr.. Bakers family, now growing
| up, access to the best folks in the whole
country.
OF the openings presented Mrs. Baker
availed herself, but prudently, and
with standing apology to Mr.. Baker;
you know, my dear, there's mighty
change since you were boy, and the
young folks must get their way a
little" The girls bad been to boardin z
school, and had their ideas OF life revo
IlutIoniz.d, and the boys-tbree OF them
drought up to their fathers business,
in a degree caught their spirit Mr..
Baker held onto his church. rain or
shine, and Deacon Bartlett said they
''ouly needed to show . good case to
Mr.. Baker and they got every dollar
they asked" Mrs. Baker occasionally
vieited . more am bilious church, near
20 her. "You know, my dear, the chill
dren get tsste for that sort OF thing 81
school, and we can't go against them
you know"
Meantime wealth was growing with
Mr.. Baker, even faster than his chill
dreD, and his sons had . share In the
business But they did not work hard
lin fact, there was no need; "father
was always on hand. and every thing
went like q machine His eldest had
q taste for horses and there was jus,
being developed, In imitation OF New
York, an informal club, the mbers
of WI ich often dined, drove and drank
together. Twas little rise for Fred.
Baker to be taken In, and his fathe
rather demurred; but "Don't say any.
hing, my dear; the Deans and the
Marburys are nice people, and Mrs.
Boutwell,, l could see, thought 1t q
great thing and you know We must not
stand In the way Of the young people
getting on" So argued Mrs. Baker.
She was sorry for 1t years after when
L Fad hn ID ~ ha
Deans. was thrown from behind q
lovely pair of horses he was driving,
fell on his head, and never spoke again.
His young widow soon married New
Yorker. She was we'll provided for,
and she quilted the 'slow New Eaglar d
life," as she called 1t. She lives 10
Dresden, going to Berlin In the winter.
The Baker family had little knowl.
&c Of her; but when The second SON
Archie, married, q trip to the CON tinent
being q part Of the programme, IL was
decided that Dresden should be visited.
Archie's ways had not been the least
like his fathers. He was q great
society man, q favorite at gentlemen q
dinners, and care to Mr.. Baker.
"Don't take on 80, my dear; young men
will be young men. You must not ex.
pect them, with all the money they
want, to look at things as you did
when you were young" So.reasoned
Mrs. Baker. But even she was crushed
q good deal over the news that Archie
took sick on the continent, that he was
o bad subject for it, and died In seven
days. His bride was well to do, aud
after modest mourning time, carried
q good deal Of the Baker money into o
fashionable family at Cleveland.
Poor Mr.. Baker! he held on to his old
ways, built o lecture room for the